Donna Rietschlin’s Reflection and a Parish Update on the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear St. Joe’s parishioners,

Parishioner Donna Rietschlin shares with us her thoughts on this Sunday’s readings, exploring what we might take away from the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, especially in light of developments and life in our contemporary world. Donna reflects: “Wisdom sits at the gate and waits for us. She is available. God is with us at all times. We don’t know the day nor the hour when we will be called to respond with all the gifts God has given us.  Let us be watchful.  Let us be responsive, using all the love God has given us to be present to others, especially those we see as very different from ourselves…”

To read the full reflection, click here (Donna Rietschlin–32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time ), see the video below or hear it in person at our weekend Masses.

Parishioner Jessica Laframboise offers us this Sunday’s Reflection for children in our community. Please see the video below:

Liturgical Resources

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – November 8 2020 – Liturgy of the Word for use at home

READINGS FOR THE 32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS FOR CHILDREN – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Prayers of the Faithful

Mission Prayer

Parish Update:

  • A SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE – CARITAS CANADA: Our archbishops invite us to make a donation on November 15 to Development and Peace – Caritas Canada.   It is in support of our sisters and brothers in the global south who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  As Pope Francis said,  “An emergency like that of COVID-19 is overcome with above all the antibodies of solidarity.”  Please visit devp.org to learn how the Recovering Together Campaign  is  helping our most vulnerable neighbours in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. You can use your Share Lent envelope or envelopes will be available in church at all weekend Masses on November 14/15.  Thank you.
  • Congratulations to Dean Siraco who made his First Communion at the noon liturgy on Friday, November 6, 2020.
  • This weekend we celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism for Malcolm Thomas Ash — son of Michael Ash and Kelly Seymour and sibling of Luke, Isla and Claire. Let us keep the family in our prayers as we welcome Malcom into our faith community.
  • Upcoming Announced Masses 
    • Thurs., November 11, 2020: Bernhard Mauron (Requested by Helen Zettel)
    • Fri., November 12, 2020: Maria Jimenez  (Requested by Sandra Luna)
  • Employment and Social Development Canada student placements in the St. Joe’s Supper Table: We will be welcoming three students to the Supper Table program in temporary positions that are fully funded by Employment and Social Development Canada. By making possible these short-term placements, the Government of Canada aims to provide young Canadians with opportunities to gain workplace experience in holistic, supportive environments — often in nonprofit organizations like St. Joe’s.
  • Sunday Offering for November 1, 2020: $5,077. Thank you for your continued generosity! If you are attending Mass this weekend and would like to make a donation, you will find a Sunday offering basket near the main entrance of the church. You can leave your donation here at either the beginning or the end of Mass. If you are not yet returning to St. Joe’s for Mass this weekend or will be away, please consider using Canada Helps. You may choose the Parish fund of your choice through this form: http://www.st-josephs.ca/about/donations/. You can also read more about the donation of securities here.

A Prayer for Remembrance Day written by Fr. Jim Bleackley OMI:

O God, the men and women whose memory we celebrate today died defending and preserving our freedom and our democracy, and all those values we so highly cherish. Today, we honour their sacrifice by remembering and praying for them. We ask you to bless them with the gift of eternal life.

We pray in a special way for their families and friends who deal with loss today. Gracious God, overwhelm them with your and love, may you be their strength and courage today.

We pray for all veterans; may they always know how grateful and thankful we are for their courageous stand on our behalf.

Also, we pray for all armed forces personnel who continue to bring freedom and safety to war-torn countries of our world and for those in our community who serve and protect us; we ask you to watch over them and keep them safe.

We pray that Canada and all nations may continue to work for peace and justice.

For all of us, may the sacrifice and example of others encourage us to be peacemakers. At all times may we have the grace and the knowledge to walk gently on the earth with a profound respect for all we meet.

O God may your gift of peace bless us now and forever. Amen

A prayer and some thoughts as we continue to live this uncertain period in time…
“A pastor attended a men’s breakfast in the middle of a rural farming area of the country. The group had asked an older farmer, decked out in bib overalls, to say grace for the morning breakfast. “Lord, I hate buttermilk,” the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where this was going. The farmer loudly proclaimed, “Lord, I hate lard.” Now the pastor was growing concerned. Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, “And Lord, you know I don’t much care for raw white flour.” The pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that he wasn’t the only one to feel uncomfortable. Then the farmer added, “But Lord, when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits. So Lord, when things come up that we don’t like, when life gets hard, when we don’t understand what you’re saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits. Amen.”

Within that prayer there is great wisdom for all when it comes to complicated situations like we are experiencing in the world today. Our life is being mixed with lots of things that we don’t care for…relax and wait until the mixing is done.

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We continue to welcome updates on the work of ministries and clusters in our parish, whether on-site or virtually. Please contact us using the email address below.

Peace,

Chris

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Christopher Adam
email: cadam@st-josephs.ca

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